AFE/SAF move to new headquarters

After 33 years in its current location, SAF is moving in mid-April to a new location, about two miles away.

The current location and 13,000-square foot building at 1601 Duke Street in Alexandria, Virginia, has served SAF since 1983, when SAF purchased the building and paid it off seven years later. With the new headquarters, also in downtown Alexandria, SAF will own 100 percent of a 9,000 square-foot office condo on the second floor of a six-story building that houses 22 other associations and non-profit organizations.

"The development of a once-derelict building in an unused part of town created both a wonderful working office and headquarters for these many decades and also a sound appreciating financial asset," says Martin Meskers, SAF president. "We are glad we can continue to leverage the wise decisions of that board more than three decades ago for the benefit and future of the association."

SAF’s team is composed of 18 employees, compared to 36 in 1983. The new headquarters provides more efficient office space to better match the needs of the organization and foster more collaboration through an open layout.

“While many of us feel a bit nostalgic about leaving the building we have called our work home for so many years — and one that has welcomed so many industry members through its doors — our new headquarters allows us to maximize our asset, provide a more efficient work environment for staff and demonstrate our commitment to serving members and the floral industry,” said SAF CEO Peter J. Moran.

Former SAF Treasurer Dwight Larimer, AAF, PFCI, led the SAF Building Taskforce, which also included SAF board member Paul Fowle, along with the full SAF executive committee: Peter J. Moran, CEO; Martin Meskers, AAF, president; Shirley Lyons, AAF, PFCI, chairman; Chris Drummond, AAF, treasurer; and Bill LaFever, PFCI, president-elect.

The American Floral Endowment, which is housed in SAF headquarters, will also be moving to the new space. The new address for AFE is 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 201 Alexandria, Va. 22314.

Phone and fax numbers for AFE will remain the same: 703-838-5211 (main line) and 703-838-5212 (fax).